Astros to retire Biggio's No. 7 at Aug. 17 game

Biggio's No. 7 to be retired Aug. 17Player becomes 9th Astro to have number set aside

BRIAN MCTAGGART, Copyright 2008 Houston Chronicle

Published 5:30 am, Saturday, May 24, 2008

Photo: Karen Warren, AP

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Craig Biggio becomes the ninth Astros player to have his number retired.

Craig Biggio becomes the ninth Astros player to have his number retired.

Photo: Karen Warren, AP

Astros to retire Biggio's No. 7 at Aug. 17 game

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When he was called up to the Astros for the first time in 1988, Craig Biggio wasn't picky about his uniform number.

Astros equipment manager Dennis Liborio gave the young catcher No. 4, a number he was forced to surrender when the club traded for veteran infielder Steve Lombardozzi the following spring.

"He wanted it, and I didn't get a case of beer or $100 out of it," Biggio said. "He got sent to the minors and I made the team, so No. 4 is a bad number."

Biggio settled for No. 7 and wore that number for the remainder of his 20-year career.

Astros owner Drayton McLane announced Friday the club will honor the seven-time All-Star one more time when it retires Biggio's familiar No. 7 in a ceremony before the Aug. 17 game against Arizona.

"It's one of the biggest honors you could ever have," Biggio said. "It will be forever. You play the game for a long time and it doesn't necessarily mean you'll have your number retired, but the way you play the game and things you're able to do and that's going to happen.

"That's one of the greatest feelings you could have as a player is to look up there and see your retired number. I'm very honored."

Biggio, who earlier this week was named head coach at St. Thomas High School, finished his 20-year career with 3,060 hits, 668 doubles, 291 home runs, 1,175 RBIs and a .281 average in 2,850 games played.